The European Commission said today it was stepping up its assistance to Italy to help it deal The Commission said it would be extending the Frontex Joint Operation Triton until at least the end of this year. It will also be giving Italy €13.7 million in emergency funding from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
The Commission it stood ready to react quickly to any Italian request to increase the resources of Triton.
It also said that that to help member states prepare for potentially continued high pressure given the ongoing instability in some countries in the Mediterranean neighbourhood, it was also stepping up its surveillance of the implementation of the recommendations of the Mediterranean Task Force and would report back on progress made to the March Home Affairs Council.
This was besides the migration support being offered to Italy in dealing and added to more than €500 million for 2014-2020.
First vice-president Frans Timmermans said that as long as there were wars and hardships in the neighbourhood, people would continue to risk their lives in search of European shores.
“There is no simple solution to this complex problem, but it is clear that there is no national solution. There is only a European solution. We are working hard to prepare a comprehensive approach in a new European Agenda on Migration to be presented this year.
“In the meantime, we have heard Italy's call and are responding in every way we can, and we are ready to respond constructively if Italy identifies the need to step up Operation Triton's resources."
Commission vice-president Federica Mogherini said that as the EU worked to tackle the dramatic situation in Libya, it decided to step-up its partnership with third countries along the main migratory routes as part of its cooperation on the Khartoum and Rabat processes.
“This should help to dismantle criminal networks of traffickers and smugglers and to give maximum protection to those in need, starting with areas neighbouring the crises.
“Our resettlement efforts have improved and this should help to stabilise refugee communities in third countries, together with the work of the UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration."
Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said:
"Today we face a stark reality: Europe needs to manage migration better, in all aspects. And this is above all a humanitarian imperative.
“No, we cannot replace Italy in the management of the external borders but we can lend a helping hand. So we will extend Operation Triton and we will increase its resources if this is what Italy needs.
“At the same time, we are not building Fortress Europe. Our resettlement efforts have improved and now we are working to propose a credible number of resettlement places, on a voluntary basis, to offer alternative legal avenues to protection. The message we are sending today is very simple: Italy is not alone. Europe stands with Italy."